Duke, Ella: Really Super Jazz Souls

The superb jazz music of the powerful duo of Duke Ellington and singer Ella Fitzgerald is terrific. The fabulous sounds are so engaging to all. Enjoying the performance of the fine song 'It Don't Mean A Thing....' is a vigorous and joyful human experience. Yes, the work of Duke and Ella is truly somethin' else. My, My....I Love Jazz So Very Much!

Pianist Hank Jones passes at 91

A great man passed away today. The wonderful man of jazz piano, Hank Jones, left us at the age of 91. He was a powerful force in music for about seven decades. Also, he worked with some superstars like John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald. We all will truly miss this legendary performer.

Diana Krall's music's romantic and swingin'

Today is beautiful here in the historic Atlanta area. Fun is on my mind right now. Again I snared a big helping of happiness. I got my ears tuned to the lovely voice and magical keyboard of sexy, so romantic Diana Krall. The solid up tempo work of Diana Krall got my whole mojo going nice and brisk. The grand music of Diana Krall reminds me a bit of early Ella Fitzgerald. The good Ella Fitzgerald song, 'Tisket, Tasket' has always been a tremendous favorite of mine. Well anyway music buddies and confidantes I listened to Diana Krall doing a solid, gliding and remarkably polished rendition of the finesse standard, 'Deed I Do.' This song souped up my day to a just right level of real good times. Lord, I believe in good times cause it is so much fun to savor life's excitements. That's a good 10-4 as the radio pundits say. Thanks, Diana Krall, your extraordinary and fine and romantic and glad musical sounds were just right today.

Fitzgerald, Davis, Eldridge, U2: Great Fun!

Jam session jazz music is so wild, a good 'ole whoop-t-do.' I listened today to a fine mainstream jazz session featuring the marvelous vocalizing of Ella Fitzgerald and many musical friends. This grand session from Holland had the great big bountiful sound of the super tenor saxophonist, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Roy 'Little Jazz' Eldridge on trumpet, smooth comping guitar work from the wise Joe Pass and Tommy Flanagan on piano and the steady stylish Keter Betts on the bass. The blending of incredible scat singing by Ella Fitzgerald along with sensual,joyous tenor machinations by Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis and highly thoughtful and provocative work by Roy Eldridge on the trumpet...well Lord, this was almost too much. This music was so powerhouse, so brash and "right on." This kind of jazz gives us all so much wonderful excitement it is kind of like U2 music. Lord, it gets us going. Now, can't wait for the big U2 Rose Bowl show, tomorrow. Cheers, everyone!

Flanagan, Fitzgerald: Greatness in Jazz

Highly sophisticated piano jazz has such tremendous appeal. I listened to one of my very favorite keyboard men today, the great Tommy Flanagan. The man has pure joy going on when he is really cookin' with lilting linear lines of vivid improvisation. It's interesting how he can adapt himself. He gets some fabulous work done on the J.J. Johnson tune, 'Lament.' And also I truly find myself delighted with the sparkling really uptempo number, 'Raincheck.' Tommy Flanagan backed up the great Ella Fitzgerald for a long time. They made grand, intoxicating so joyous music together. The wonderfully honed phrasing of Tommy Flanagan on piano and the delightful vocal nuances developed by Ella Fitzgerald...well these sounds are what one might call the very pinnacle of jazz delight.